The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

22 THE EXHIBITOR Our Mister Joe Joel COMMENTS ON 4 4 T H STREET The 20th anniversary of Motion Picture Operators Local 384, IATSE, Hudson County, New Jersey, is being celebrated with a dinner and dance at the Top Hat Night Club, Union City. . . . Janet Ponzis, daughter, Russel P. Cohen, Dennis Games, Inc., gave birth to a six-pound baby boy January 11. Mother and child are doing nicely and is Grandpa Russ Cohen proud! . . . Vera Stock, Loew’s pi-ojector department, is now convalescing at her home after a very serious operation. She is the sister of Dorothy Kennedy, Loew’s. Please, Vera, get well enough to return to your position as you co-workers certainly miss you. . . . Billy Benson wants his friends in Albany to know he is now with the Big U Exchange at 630 Ninth Avenue. He certainly would like to hear from them. Phil Engel, Warner Brothers’ eastern publicity representative, returned from a 14-day trip which took him to Boston, Providence, New Bedford, Portland, and a few other first-run situations in the New England territory, setting up the advance campaign for “Invisible Stripes” and “Four Wives.” Following this carriage, Phil flew to Buffalo, assisting on the opening of “A Child Is Born” and “Four Wives”, then on to Rochester, and finally into Albany. To start the ball rolling on “The Fighting 69th,” Phil broadly states that every exhibitor is anxiously awaiting the release of “The Fighting 69th,” and that business is better today as all the factories and stores are doing a wonderful business. ... I paid a visit to the Cocalis circuit the other day and, much to my surprise, I met a gentleman whom I have known for the past 25 years. I refer to J. J. Thompson, and, from the reports I received from different exchanges, he is certainly well thought of by all with whom he comes in contact. . . . One would not know the Amusement Supply Company’s store if he paid them a visit. The store has been entirely renovated and it is the only company that has everything on one floor. All their supplies and repairs are on the premises. . . . Messrs Masquef and Rosenkrantz, formerly with Grand National, film department, are now employed with the Big U Exchange. Elias Barkey, a faithful employee who was with Grand National and First Division, head of the shipping department, since they started in business, and was also with the old Merit exchange with I. E. Chadwick, lost his job because the Grand National exchange closed, but I know with his record and ability he will not be long out of a position. . . . Mac Schwartzman, Mac-Bert Premium Company, returned from a very successful trip upstate. Mac says the Mac-Bert premiums are now being used in theatres which never used premiums before. . . . I am pleased to announce that Morris Goldsmith, RKO, poster department, has returned to work. ... It is my earnest wish that the employees of the different exchanges poster department, who will transfer their business to National Screen Service, will all secure what they deserve — good positions. ... It has been said that the girls in the United Artists film room are trying to start a hockey club. charge of New Jersey; and Irving Rothenberg, in charge of Long Island and upstate. Former chief booker Macomber fills in the office manager’s spot vacated when Sam Lefkowitz was upped to his present post. Edward M. Schnitzer is district manager. . . . Booker A1 Blumberg celebrated a natal anniversary last week. . . . Field representative Phil Engel was up at Vitagraph last week pretty much enthused about the build-up being given “Fighting 69th.” He tells us there’s to be a dinner in Rochester to co-incide with the big Waldorf affair in New York. . . . He also did a rave on the radio time being given the picture. Phil claims it tops anything ever given to any picture previously. FINE ARTS: Dick Perry is in charge of the local branch, which will handle the Frankly n Warner productions, seven now being available, with a total of 26 features and 16 westerns to be released. Staten Island Staten Island Fabian managers Trilling, Firnkoess, Garzetta, Lane, Kasse, Sherkey, Glass, Evans and advertising director Edgar Goth were hosts at a dinner given in honor of Harry Black held at Lazzarie’s. Occasion marked one year since Harry Black assumed duties as division manager of the local Fabian circuit. . . . Staten was selected as the new name for the remodernized New Dorp which opened January 18. Manager Michael Garzetta and advertising director Edgar Goth worked with division manager Harry Black and executed a comprehensive opening campaign including co-op ad sections in newspaper with stories, art, etc. Hollywood opening was arranged with kleig lights playing on the front of the theatre, parades, local, civic and political leaders as speakers. . . . Samuel Rosen was in town checking on progress of new Staten. . . . Ben Perse received a tremendous kick when Joe Hornstein won a broken-down theatre seat as one of the comedy prizes at the recent Fabian Theatres Employees’ First Annual Dinner Dance. Trick comedy radio broadcast which started the evening festivities is the talk of the Island. CIRCUITS Brandt Group of 24 houses of the circuit has signed for Warner product for the current season, it was announced last week. Cinema Ted Krassner, buyer and booker, was married last fortnight to Miss Jacquelyn Lassoff. Loeiv’s Teddy Arnow, Westchester publicity man, was married recently to Deborah Fishman. Ernest Emerling spent part of last week in Dayton, Ohio, where his mother-inlaw passed away. HOME OFFICES Columbia Norma Cusack can be reached at the Evans Hotel, Miami, these wintry days. . . . Charlotte Walerstein, a publicity department aide, was another Florida vacationer. . . . Shorts subjects sales chief Max Weisfeldt celebrated a birthday January 15. . . . Office populated by A1 Sherman, Jose Schorr, and Nan Klein did a strip-tease before the painters got at it last week. Metro Howard Dietz returned from the Coast and left after a few days. The boys tossed a surprise luncheon party for Halsey Rains at the Woodstock last week. Pandro Berman, new producer, came in for conferences before leaving for Florida and the Coast. . . . Dave Blum, foreign department, had a birthday last week. . . . Flu proved too much for hard-working Si Seadler so he was bedded for a spell. Monogram Milford Pastrich, late of George Washington’s general staff in the Monogram mail room, has handed in his resignation and is now a member of the United States Coast Guard. Paramount Y. Frank Freeman, production chief, came to town for conferences, accompanied by Cliff Lewis, studio and publicity chief. William Boyd, Paramount’s popular western star known to theatre audiences all over the world as Hopalong Cassidy, arrived from Hollywood for a few days’ vacation before going to Washington to attend the President’s Birthday Ball. Boyd is accompanied by his wife, Grace Bradley. Producers’ Distributing Corp , Dora Field is home ill. RKO Rutgers Neilson recently received the papers making him an honorary member of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police. . . . Henderson Richey and Frances Smith are still being kept busy by visitors to the Exhibitors’ Lounge. George J. Schaefer and Ned E. Depinet left for the Coast. Roach Grace Rosenfield is back at work after kayoing an attack of the grippe. She claims the illness came on when the train bringing Frank Seltzer in from the coast was late. . . . And it was cold, s’help us. . . . Another visitor from the coast was Lon Chaney, Jr., one of the leads in “Mice and Men.” . . . Seltzer, Chaney, and Burgess Meredith trekked to Washington for the picture’s opening and for January 24, 1940